Flashy Sea Show Uncovered

June 27, 2014 7:31 PM

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Disco clams, known for their flashy light shows at the bottom of the sea, can thank their reflective tissues for such a lustrous performance. A recent study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface found that these mollusks are busy catching and reflecting ambient light.

Native to the Indo-Pacific, this striking saltwater clam carries colorful tendrils that suck in light and flicker out neon ripples of electricity, which helps explain its nickname.